Hot-air register.



Pat nted Jan. 2|, I902.

L. D. SMITH.

HOT AIR REGISTER.

(Application flied. Oct. 17, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I,

(No llddel.)

R m H m WITNESSES Attorneys.

Patented Jan; 2|, I902.

L. n. sm'rii. HOT AIR REGISTER.

- (Application filed Oct. 17, 1900.) (No Model.)

4 Sheets-She'd 2.

A liorneys.

m: NORRIS PETERS co. womumo" WASHINGTON. o. c. v

Patented Jan. 2|, I902.

L. 0. SMITH. HOT AIR REGISTER.

(Application mod Oct. 17, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Shed 3.

(No Mpdel.)

'mzycams PETERS w. mom-ui-nui. wAsmhm'nm o. q.

Patented Jan. 2|, I902. -L. B. SMITH. HUT AIR REGISTER.

(Appfication filed Oqt. 17, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Shoot 4.

(No Model.)

I I I I 7 I I WITNESSES Attorneys.

' :TNE uonms Perms cu, m'o-mmua, WASHINGTON, n c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER D. SMITH, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO'IDEAL REGISTER 00., OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION.

HOT-AIR REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 691,733, dated January 21, 1902. Application filed October '17, 1900. Serial No. 33,325. (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUTHER D. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Hot-Air Registers; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which-it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to hot-air registers, especially to that type which are inserted in the wall rather than in the floor of a room; and it consists in certain novel features of construc-, tion, arrangement, and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of register embodying my invention detached from the wall for the purpose of more clearly illustrating its construction. Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation of the left-hand end of Fig. 1, showing thearrangement and connection of the various operative parts. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 2 upon the same sectional line. Fig. 4. is a perspective view of a detail of-some of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional end elevations of modifications that may be employed in lieu of the arrangements of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 7 is a detail figure of a portion of Fig. 5. Figs. 8 and 9 are details illustrating Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional elevation of a modification of my invention, in which the register swings from the top instead of from the bottom, but employing the same principle of actuating a flap-valve opening'into the air-passage. Fig. 11 is a detaiLview of the latch for opening the register, as illustrated in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a detail of a part of the. mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 13 and 14 show details of con struction. Fig. 15 is a partial perspective view of the registerof the type of Figs. 1, 5, 6, and 10, showing its connection with the wall and base-board of a room when in a closed position. Fig. 16 shows the register illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 in the closed position.

Similar indices refer to similar parts.

In the drawings, A represents a casing or hollow framework inserted in the wall of the room and which surrounds the register-opening, forming a preferably metal molding, which may be made of ornamental shape, and being hollow contains air, which is permitted to circulate and keep the framework from unduly heating, in a manner hereinafter described. The configuration of the molding of this framework may be varied to fit the baseboard B or to fit any other conditions of wallsurface in which the register is located. In Fig. 15 the upper portion is shown rounded or molded, whereas the lower portion is square, up against which the base-board abuts.

The opening in the casing A is filled by a perforated removable framework 0, which carries the moving parts and mechanism of the register. Thus the entire register, with its mechanism, maybe removed by the removal of the frame 0 from the casing A, to which it may be attached in any suitable manner. The framework 0, as is shown in Figs.

1, 2, and 3, is preferably formed of angle-iron having an outer surface 0 and an interior surface 0' and telescoped within the casing A.

It will be understood, of course, that the openingin the wall in which the register is inserted is one which permits egress from the hot-air flue, as shown in Fig. 2, and that this flue is also in the usual manner connected with any sourceof air-supply.

In the form of register "shown in Figs-'2, 3,

5, and 6 the movable portions consist of a 'subrectangular frame D, closely fitting the opening in the frame 0 and pivoted at its lower edge to'the frame (J, so that its top swings outwardly upon the pivots into the room and that allof the figures just referred to show the register-frame in the open posio tion, the difference between them being in different details of construction and of the connectionwith the valve adapted to uncover the register-opening and divert the air from the hot-air flue out through the'register-open- 9 5 ing into the room. The frame D may be a skeletonframe entirely open, or it may be inclosed with ornamental grillwork of any design, as is suggested in Fig. 1, the air passing through the spaces left in the grillwork.

In'the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 8 the frame D has attached at its upper edge a rec tangular curved frame D, the curvature of which corresponds to the sector of a circle the radius of which is the width of the frame D and the center the pivotal point of D to the frame 0. This curved frame D may also be entirely open or be filled with ornamental grillwork, as is shown in Fig. 1. In the angles formed at the ends by the junction of frames D and D there may also be ornamental grillwork forming a bracket supporting and bracing the end of the frame D, as is suggested in Figs. 1 and 2. Combined with the swinging frame is a valve E, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 10, adapted to entirely close the opening in the frame C when the register is closed.

The valve E is substantially, or very nearly, as long as the open space between the sides of the rectangularframe 0, just room enough being left to allow the grillwork to pass between the ends of the valve E and the side of the frame 0. Inside of the grillwork and attached thereto are preferably curved strips F F, which are formed, preferably, in combination with the grillwork, the curvature in these strips corresponding with the curvature 'in the surface of the valve E, so that when the valve is against the strips at either end it closely closes off the opening into the airflue, as shown in Fig. 16.

In order to operate the valve E simultaneously with the swinging out of the upper portion of the frame D, carrying with it the frame D and its attachments, I have devised the mechanism shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. A slot or opening D is formed in the grillwork at each end of the structure D D in order to accommodate the pivoting of the valve E and its attending mechanism. Only one of these slots is shown, as they are similar. The valve E is pivoted at e directly to the frame 0 by a pin rigidly attached to the valve E and engaging a corresponding hole in the frame C. Below this pivotal point a lug 6, also attached to the valve E, engages in an adjustable track E, which is pivotally attached at e to a convenient point in the structure D D and which is adjustably held upon that structure by a set-screwand slot at a The track is not coincident with the center of rotation of the frame D, but is eccentric thereto, and therefore as the upper part of the frameD is swung out upon its pivotal points at d the attachment E" on the valve E is raised. This necessarily raises the lower edge of the Valve E, swings it up and backward into the air-flue, and cuts off the air-fine wholly or partially, and deflects that portion thus cut off outwardly and upwardly through the registeropening.

In Fig. t I have shown a detail of the connection between the valve E and slotted adjustable track E.

Ihe closed position of the register is illustrated in Fig. 16. It is obvious, however,

that on drawing forward or outward the upper portion of the framework D at D to a greater or less degree the valve E would be correspondingly opened by virtue of its engagement with the slotted adjustable track E and that the variation in elevation of the upper right-hand end of this track would cor respondingly vary the amount of opening of the valve E in proportion to the amount the frame was drawn forward. Thus the valve could be adjusted so as to entirely out off the air-flue in which it inwardly projected in the opening process or only cut 0% such portion of it as may be desired. If, therefore, the flue extended to an upper story, but a portion of the warm air would be withdrawn from it and the residue allowed to pass upward into the second story and be withdrawn at that point.

In the forms shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 I provide a cover Gr, for that portion of the register which is comprised in the framework D. This cover is imperforate, is pivoted to the framework D at either end at d, (see Fig. 3,) and carries at one or both ends a pin (1 projecting toward and beyond the frame 0. In that portion of the frame (3 marked a is cut a V-shaped groove 0 in which the pin d engages, the upper slot of the V-shaped groove forcing the pin downward as the register is drawn outward, and this tilts the cover ,G upwardly, opening and exposing the grillwork in the framework D. The cover G is formed with cheek pieces g g, projecting downwardly and over the frame D, which preferably carry the pins d and d".

When the register is closed, as shown in Fig. 16, the cover closely engages the top of the register and protects itfrom dust, as well as closes the orifice against the egress of hot air. When open, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it forms a deflecting-plate of much value, inasmuch as it substantially is a continuation of the curved surface of the valve E, deflecting and carrying the heated air out into the interior of the room and away from the wall, which rises above the frame A, thus preventing the streaking and soiling of the wall. The operation of this form of the register will be readily understood from the foregoing description, it being obvious that the swinging of the pivoted frame D upon the pivots or hinges at the bottom of the frame simultaneously compels an opening of the valve E and cover G, whereby a portion or the whole of the uprising column of air in the air-,fiue is diverted through the register-frame into the room. It is also obvious that the area of the opening in the frames D D and D D exceed the area of the opening in the fronts of the register-frame D D, and may substantially equal the area of the opening in the frame 0.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown an alterna tive structure of simpler type in which the swinging frame of the register is pivoted upon ICC its lower edge and operates the valve E by different form of connections and which also omit the cover G.

In Fig. there are the frames D D, constructed substantially like those of Fig. 1. There is also the valve E, constructed like that of Figs. 1 and 2; but in Fig. 5 this valve is pivotally attached at e to the movable frame. The valve E rides over afixed pin 6 attached to the fixed frame 0. A spring 6 holds the valve rigidly against this pin with some degree of frictional force, the spring being firmly attached to the valve E at one end at 6 and it has a pocket a into which when the valve is closed the pin 2 can fall readily, so that some degree of force is required to draw the register forward, and when it is forward and open, as shown in the figure, the frictional contact with the pin e will prevent the free edge of the valve E from overbalancing and tending to close the register. A catch 01 is attached, which limits the open movement by coming in contact with the notch formed in the frame 0. It is obvious that on pushing back the frame D flush with the wallor with the fixed frame of the register the valve E would close down against the side pieces F F in exactly the same manner as in Figs. 1 and 2.

I have shown in Fig. 7 a detailof the edge of the valve E, showing the spring and the by a fixed pin c it being understood that pivotal pin 6 In Figs. 6, 8, and 9 I have shown another form by which the valve-E may be controlled. In this the valve E is pivoted to the frame 0 top of the flap-valve E and as the frame D is drawn forward pulls the top of the valve outwardly and downwardly, and consequently forces the lower free edge inwardly and upwardly in the fine, as shown in the drawings. This form possesses a certain advantage in that when the valve is in the position shown. in the drawings and controlled by the cam J it forms a brace against the top of the frame D and the side pieces F Fin such manner that the register is not readily closed by direct pressure, but requires a little force to effect it.

In Figs. 10 and 11 I have shown an alternative construction embodying the same principle of a swinging front or frame combined with an opening-valve, with or without other valves, together with means for connecting such swinging frame with and actuating the valve.

Fig. 10, which is a vertical sectional view showing the end of the frame 0, isone form in which the construction admits of the swinging of the frame from the top.

In Fig. 10, D represents the frame, as in ter.

Fig. 1, with grillwork, the frame I) being adapted to be fitted into an opening in a frame 0, inserted, asinFig. 1, in the casingA. As stated, instead of pivoting the swinging front of the register D at the bottom, as in Fig. 1, it is pivoted at d at the top by any same manner as it is pivoted at 6 in Fig. 6.

To the topof frame D is attached a lug or finger L, which projects inwardly and downwardly, leaving a space between it and the grillwork of the frame D, which when the valve is closed the upper edge of the valve at a may be inserted, as the lug L is rigidly attached to D It follows from this construction that by swinging out the lower edge of the frame D the lower end of the log is drawn forward on the arc of a circle of which the pivotal point of the frame D is the cen-' Its lower end impinges upon the rear surface of the valve E, above its pivotal point at a The valve at that point, therefore, is depressed and drawn outwardly,turning upon the pivotal point 6 and the lower portion of the valve is retracted into the fluei'n exact proportion to the distance that the lower edge of the frame D 'is swung outwardly. In order to readily open and hold open a register of.

this type, Iprovide a latch M (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10 and shown inserted in aslot M in the frame 0.) This latch M osand is pivoted or forms a part of a rock-shaft M ,;which is journaled through the side of the wall of the frame (land carries at its other extremity a lug M, having serrations at its-end at m. Oorrespondingly upon one of the side bars of the frame D is fixed a serrated ridge M, correspondingto the serrations in the piece M. As the end piece M is lifted the rotation of the end shaft M carries up the piece M with a sliding engagement against the serrations M and forces the frame D outwardly, the serrations locking. in any position in which it is placed until the lever M is depressed, whenthe serrations are unlocked and the register-front D falls backinto its normalposition.

The locking of the register in an inclined position is an advantage, as its inclined surface may then aiford a convenient foot-rest.

As a means of ventilation and keeping the casing A cool I make the casinghollow, pref erably of hollow metal, and along its lower edge provide a series of small air-holes a a and also downwardly-opening holes along the upper interior side of the casing,whereby the air can enter at the lower edge, pass around the side in the space in the casing, and descend through the holes a along the interior edge of the upper part of the casing.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 16 the holes cillates upward and downward in the slot M in the upper portion of the casing are closed 0% by the closing of the register-frame D.

The operation of each of these devices is apparent from the description.

I believe I am the first to form a wall-register upon the principle hereinbefore described wherein I attain a greater air-opening than the opening in the frame of the register proper and in which the opening of the grill-frame in the manner specified simultaneously opens valves, permitting the egress of air through the register-opening having an area equal, if desired, to that of the opening in the wall-frame and at the same time diverting it in the air-flue from its previous course. I do not, therefore, desire to limit myself to the means of connection between a swinging frame of a register and a valve or valves which shall simultaneously open by means of that connection, but desire to claim the same broadly.

What I claim is- 1. In a register, the combination of a fixed perforated frame forming a register opening into an air-flue, a swinging framework pivoted at one edge to the fixed framework and adapted at its opposite edge to swing outwardly from a fiush position in said fixed framework to an angular position with reference thereto, a flap-valve pivotally hinged at one edge adapted to come in contact with the swinging frame and close the opening from the air-shaft, means for partially rotating the valve from the closed position to an open position and connecting said swinging framework with said valve whereby the actuation of the swinging framework will actuate the valve to open and close the opening, substantially as described.

2. In a register, the combination of a perforated swinging frame adapted to fit the aperture leading from an air-flue and pivotally located therein and adapted to swing outwardly from a flush position to an angular position with reference thereto, a flap-valve pivotally located in the rear of said swinging frame and pivoted at its upper edge, and adapted to close the opening from the air-flue when in contact with said swinging frame, said valve being actuated by said swinging frame rearwardly to open the air-passage, substantially as described.

3. In a register, the combination of a fixed frame, a pivoted perforated frame located therein and adapted to swing, a pivoted flapvalve located in the rear of said pivoted frame, adjustable means connecting the swinging frame and the valve whereby the opening of the valve can be regulated, substantially as described.

4. In a register, the combination of a perpendicular air-flue with an aperture therein, and a pivoted frame located in said aperture, said frame having a perforate curved top frame on the radius of a circle of which the pivotal point is the center and perforated segments rigidly attached at the ends of said top frame, a swinging frame, a swinging valve located in the rear of said frame, means con- .necting said swinging valve to said frame whereby the opening of said frame proportionately opens said valve, a swinging imperforate cover for said top or subframe, means connecting said swinging cover with said swinging frame whereby said cover is lifted to uncover said subframe and expose the perforations therein, said flap-valve and said cover forming a deflecting plane for deflecting the air into and away from the wall of the room above said register, substantially as described.

5. In a register, the combination of a casing-frame, a swinging frame pivoted at its lower edge to the casing-frame, a valve pivoted at its upper edge, and arranged to swing in a direction opposite to that of the pivoted swinging frame, and means connecting the pivoted swinging frame and the valve, whereby the one actuates the other, substantially as described.

6. In a hot-air register, the combination of an air-flue provided with an aperture leading therefrom, a hollow frame casing said aperture and provided with a series of perforations leading through the walls into the hollow of said frame, a swinging frame pivotally mounted in the opening of said hollow frame and arranged to close the perforations, substantially as described.

7. In a register, in combination with a frame incasing, a fiueorifice, a pivoted valve arranged to swing acrossaflue-passage, a defleet-or adapted to be drawn forward from the fine, and to swing upward with respect to the flue-orifice, an open-work frame pivoted to the casing-frame and arranged to swing out from the flue-passage,and connecting means whereby the several swinging parts act simultaneously, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

LUTHER D. SMITH.

WVitnesses:

R. A. PARKER, ELLIOTT J. STODDARD. 

